Iranian President to embark on a three-day historic visit to Iraq

Tehran, Mar 11: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is set to embark on a three-day visit to Iraq on Monday, the first one in his two terms in office and already billed in the media as 'historic'.

During the visit, Rouhani will meet with his Iraqi counterpart, Barham Salih, and the country's Shiite spiritual leader, Ali Sistani. The Iranian president is also expected to hold talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and parliament speaker Mohammed Halbousi, sources reported.

The sides will discuss bilateral relations and the political situation in the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier said that Tehran saw the visit as "a new start" in relations with Iraq.

According to the minister, the two countries plan to reach "historic" agreements during the visit, with new cooperation expected in the oil sector and industrial production. (UNI)